"Aaaaaaaaaah!" One of the girls suddenly cried before turning to her friend. "We got caught, Ingrid! We will be in big trouble!"


    "No we aren''t. Stop overreacting." The second one could only sigh as her body got shook back and forth.


    The scene was somewhatical allowing Sara to rx a little. Now that she got a good look at them it became clear that her guess was right.


    Having studied the ceremony''s recordings extensively trying to learn everything that can be learned from it, the reporter ended up memorizing the appearance of everyst Valkyrie that received an honor medal. Because of that it was easy for her to recognize the taller girl despite most of her face being covered. As for the other one she couldn''t tell for sure.


    "We should head back!" The first one cried once more. "We still have time! No one should''ve noticed we were gone yet!"


    "Seriously, where did all your excitement go?" The second one frowned. "I thought you liked sneaking around."


    "The old base is one thing! This is a human city we''re talking about!"


    Sara quickly connected the dots from everything she heard so far. The two were trying to sneak out and visit the human city while everyone was busy with the press conference, though one of them seemed more enthusiastic than the other.


    The need for secrecy probably meant that they weren''t allowed to wander into popted areas, which was understandable considering the problems they might cause. Still, the two chose to go against their orders despite knowing it would get them in trouble. It wasn''t something they would''ve been capable of if they were the cold machines everyone thought they were.


    "Hey you." Pushing away her panicked friend, the shorter girl turned to the reporter. "You can drive one of these, right?"


    She was pointing at a nearby car. Sara stared at it for a few seconds then returned her sight to the girl.


    "Um, of course!" She replied after a moment of hesitation. "In fact I have one of my own parked nearby."


    Having a feeling about where things were progressing, her mind began working tirelessly trying to weigh the options she had. Only half an hour was left until the press conference. As the main reporter from her news agency, covering that important event fell under her duties. Missing it wasn''t something she could afford, but the opportunity in front of her held much more potential.


    "Great!" the shorter one spoke. "We are trying to reach the city. Do you mind taking us there?"


    "Ingrid!"


    Ignoring her friend''s protest, the girl named Ingrid stared intently at the reporter. There wasn''t much of a negotiation as she offered nothing in return for the favor she was expecting. Still, that didn''t matter much to the reporter.


    "I don''t mind but… are you sure about this?" She nced at the taller girl, named Juni, who seemed on the verge of copsing from stress.


    "Ah, you don''t have to worry about her." Ingrid nced at her friend with half-lidded eyes. "This coward will be staying behind."


    "I''m not a coward!" Juni shot back.


    "Then, are youing?"


    For a few seconds, Juni stared at her in silence. It was clear that she was having trouble making up her mind, but after a while she gave in.


    "Alright them." Celebrating her victory with a smug grin, Ingrid shifted back to Sara and motioned with her head. "Lead the way, miss."


    ~[ ]~


    [What are you saying, ma''am!? There is no way I can do this!]


    "Well, you have to figure it out, Rena." Sara spoke into her phone. "Don''t worry. Just check the notes I left in my bag. I wrote down all the questions we need to ask so make sure to get at least two of them through."


    [I don''t know about this… can''t youe back in time?]


    "Sorry about that. I will make it up for youter, okay?"


    Before her apprentice could voice any moreints, the reporter hung up and put her phone in airne mode. Noticing the rhythmic drumming of her heart, she fastened her grip on the steering wheel and let a smile creep onto her face.


    "I can''t believe it was that easy." Said Ingrid "Isn''t the security a bit toox?"


    The hotel seemed to shrink as she watched it from the rear window, pulling her facemask so she could breathe properly. Thest checkpoint was already behind them, but since they faced no trouble when passing it, the three couldn''t help but feel that something was off.


    "Indeed." Sara said. "They were a lot more thorough when we arrived this morning."


    She couldn''t believe what was happening. To think that the resistance would just allow her to drive off with two of their most important assets. It would be the epitome of idiocy to think this would end well for her, but that didn''t stop her from taking the risk.


    "Doctor is going to be really mad." Said Juni, her face looking slightly paler than usual.


    "You''re still worried about that?" Ingrid frowned.


    "Buuut…"


    Before they could go on another round of banter Sara decided to throw in a few questions.


    "By Doctor do you mean Head General Sam Sanderson?"


    "Yes…" Juni answered.


    "You still call him that even though he''s no longer a physician? Sounds like the two of you are rather close."


    Juni heaved a sigh.


    "Not really." She said. "Everyone calls him Doctor so I just did the same."


    "I see." the reporter observed the Valkyries'' reflection in the rearview mirror. "But you received an honor medal the day before. That must mean you achieved a lot in thest war."


    "Say, miss." Ingrid leaned over the driver''s seat and asked with a smile. "You''re a reporter, aren''t you?"


    Sara''s heart jumped in her chest, but she didn''t allow the panic to settle in. One of the girls was much sharper than the other and was able to catch on to her intentions rather quickly. Still, even if she was exposed that didn''t mean they were going to dispose of her right away.


    "Ah,e to think of it, I have yet to introduce myself." She tried her best to keep her voice from shaking. "My name is Sara Pinkman. I work for the Frontline Times news agency."


    "I knew it!" Ingrid''s grin widened and she plopped back into her seat. "Be careful, Juni. This woman is probably trying to learn some things from you. Your boss might not like it if you revealed something important to her."


    "E-eh!?" Juni shifted from her friend to the reporter. "Is that true!?"


    With the Valkyrie''s panicked eyes directed at her, Sara went speechless for a moment. Eventually, she began to feel bad despite herself.


    "If your boss got angry then I would be the one in so much more trouble." She said. "But, well, I won''t deny that I want to learn a few things about you."


    Just then a tune began ying inside the car startling Juni and almost causing her to jump. She quickly reached into her pocket and pulled out a phone, and once she checked whatever was disyed on it, her face seemed to grow even paler.


    "It''s a message from Nana." her voice crackled a little.


    "Give it to me."


    Ingrid snatched the small device and began tapping on it.


    "... She says you aren''t allowed to use any of your abilities." Her expression rxed a little as she read the message. "Only barriers and teleportation."


    "Eh?"


    "Oho! She sent you some money as well!"


    "M-money? What are you talking about!?" Juni reached for the phone but was met with a hand to her face as Ingrid pushed her away.


    "Guess this means we''re free to go." She said. "Ah, she says you''ll have the sole responsibility for any problems that might ur."


    The messages were proof that whoever was in charge knew what the two girls were up to, but when the shorter one looked at Sara she realized that thest part was meant for her.


    "You mean that warning wasn''t for your friend?" She asked.


    "She used your name so yeah."


    Ingrid passed the phone back to its owner and rxed in her seat. Meanwhile Sara was battling confusion as she failed to understand what was happening.


    Since they made no attempt at hiding from the surveince cameras, she knew it was only a matter of time before the Resistance found out what happened. The message the Valkyrie received showed that the cat was out of the bag, but if that was the case then why did they allow them to continue?


    "Well, I did receive permission, but what about you, Ingrid?" Juni looked up from her phone and asked. "Won''t her Highness be angry?"


    "Well, it doesn''t really matter." The shorter one answered dismissively. "In the first ce we just came with her for the sake of appearances. I''m sure the others can handle things without me."


    "What about Tove? I don''t think she''d be happy about you abandoning your post…"


    "Guh!… Let''s forget about her for the time being…"


    Something about that short exchange gave Sara a really bad feeling. Now that she could see her entire face, it became clear that she wasn''t among the Valkyries who participated in yesterday''s ceremony. Adding to that her name and the mention of ''her Highness'' and only one conclusion came to mind.


    "Um… Ms. Ingrid, could it be…" Cold sweat beaded her forehead as she hesitated to ask the question.


    "Hm? What is it?" The girl in question raised an eyebrow.


    With the two in the backseat staring at her, Sara understood that she couldn''t keep dying it so she braced herself.


    "Are you actually a… Nephilim?"